Do you need a mobile app for your business?

Aug 17
4 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Introduction

In a world where the mobile phone has become the companion of every moment, companies have begun to move towards developing their own applications.

But does every business need a mobile application? Is it worth the investment? Or is your presence on social media or the website sufficient?

In this post, we will discuss in depth:

When does an application become necessary?
What is the difference between an application and a website?
Advantages and disadvantages of an application specific to your activity
The cost of building the application and the best alternatives
Checklist: Is it time to apply?

First: What is the difference between the application and the website?

Item

Website

Mobile app

Access

Via browser

It is downloaded from the store

speed

Depends on connection and browsing quality

Faster, and sometimes even works offline

Interaction

Less interactive

Rich in experience and interaction

Notifications

Often not available

You can send instant notifications

Storage on the device

Do not store

It is downloaded and stored on the phone

Conclusion The website is an introduction card, while the application is an ongoing relationship.

When do you really need an app?

Not every business needs an app, but you do need one if:

✅ 1. If you offer a recurring service:

like:

Delivery of orders (restaurants, groceries...)
Book appointments (salons, clinics...)
Monthly subscriptions (sports clubs, lessons...)

The app facilitates reuse and increases loyalty.

✅ 2. If you want to collect accurate data

The application lets you know:

Number of times the application was opened
Pages visited by the user
Duplicate purchases or reservations

💡 Data helps you develop your service and improve decisions.

✅ 3. If you have a loyal audience that is ready to download your application

If your audience loves your brand, and interacts with you regularly, the app will strengthen this relationship and make it more special.

✅ 4. If you want to send notifications

Do you launch frequent offers or discounts? The application allows you to send direct notifications to users’ mobile phones, which is more effective than email or random posts.

✅ 5. If you provide an experience based on user interaction

like:

Follow up on orders
Track points or rewards
Direct payment
Upload images or data

They all need an easy interface via an app.

Advantages of having a special application for your business

🎯 1. Enhance loyalty

The application brings the customer closer to you, and increases the chances of repeat purchases.

📲 2. Direct and smart marketing

Via notifications, you can:

Announces a new product
Remind the customer of a limited offer
You pay to visit your store

💬 3. Better communication

Some apps offer live chat or instant support.

📊 4. Accurate analyses

It shows you user behavior in detail, which is a treasure trove for product development and offers.

💼 5. Competitive advantage

If your competitors don't have an app, you're outpacing them. If they do... you need to keep up with the market.

But...what are the drawbacks or challenges?

❌ Cost

Designing and programming the application may range between 10,000 - 50,000 riyals or more
Ongoing updates and maintenance are also expensive

❌ Difficulty convincing people to download

People do not download any application easily. You must have a strong reason and a clear added value

❌ Difficulty in use affects the impression

If an app is not easy to use, it will do more harm to your reputation than good.

Are there smart alternatives to the app?

Yes! Before you build an app from scratch, you can try the following alternatives:

✅ 1. Website with an “app-like” design

Responsive + fast + app-like icons = excellent experience

✅ 2. Add the “Add to Mobile” button

It allows the user to save your site as an icon on his phone, as if it were a mini application.

✅ 3. Use ready-made applications with specific features

Such as Loyverse, Foodics, Shopify
It allows you to sell, book, and loyalty, without building an app from scratch

What types of applications are possible?

Type

Beneficiary category

Booking application

Salons, clinics, halls

Delivery application

Restaurants, groceries, cafes

Loyalty application

Retail stores, restaurants

Sales application

Online stores

Community application

Clubs, educational centers

Approximate costs for creating an application in Saudi Arabia

Type

Initial cost (SAR)

Simple application (informational)

8,000 – 15,000

Average application

15,000 – 30,000

Integrated application

30,000 – 60,000+

Monthly maintenance

500 – 2,000

💡 Don't forget that design and experience are more important than the abundance of features.

Checklist: Is it time to apply?

Question

✔️ / ❌

Does your business offer recurring services?

Do you have a loyal audience?

Do you have regular offers?

Are you losing customers because of difficulty ordering?

Do you receive complaints about difficulty booking?

Do you know competitors who have a successful app?

If you answered ✔️ to 3 or more questions, it's probably a good time to apply.

True stories from the local market

📱 Local restaurant in Jeddah: He launched his own delivery application instead of relying on HungerStation. The result: reducing application commissions and increasing profits by 20%.

🎁 Gift shop in Riyadh: He added the feature of earning points to his application, and customers began competing to obtain rewards.

🧴 Women's salon in Mecca: The application made it possible to book appointments without calls. The number of sudden apologies decreased and increased

Bookings at 35%.

Conclusion: The decision is in your hands, but...

The app is not for decoration, nor is it just a “tech fad.” It is a tool Strong …If you design it based on real needs of your customers.

✅ If you need direct communication ✅ If you have a ready audience ✅ If your experience is repeated and needs organization

The application may be the next step towards a qualitative shift in your service.

But if you are at the beginning of your project, start with a smart and easy website... then develop gradually.